Alice Ruth Schwendler, 78, formerly of Old County Road, Waitsfield, passed away in the comfort of her family at The Arbors in Shelburne on Wednesday, March 7, 2007. Born in Montpelier on February 3, 1929, she was the daughter of the late Clarence and Charlotte (Goodyear) Tucker. She married Robert George Schwendler in Moretown. Robert predeceased her on January 4, 1980.

Alice was a graduate of Waitsfield High School and later studied nurse's training at Gifford Medical Center in Randolph and Montreal, Canada. She served as a surgical nurse in hospitals in Vermont, Texas and California. While living in California, Alice started her own business selling handmade pinecone wreaths and other specialty items. Following the death of her husband in 1980, Alice returned to her roots in the Mad River Valley where she raised her three sons and became active in Our Lady of the Snows Catholic Church, the Waitsfield Historical Society, the Garden Club and Couples Club. Alice was also integral in the funding of the Waitsfield ice rink. In her leisure time, she enjoyed making pinecone wreaths and needlepoint.

Alice is survived by her sons, John Schwendler and his wife, Michelle, of Simpsonville, SC, Thomas Schwendler and his wife, Karen, of Wilmot, NH, and Daniel Schwendler and his wife, Johanne, of St.- Denis-de-Brompton, Quebec; her grandsons, Andrew, Tom, Nathaniel, Robert, Jonathan and Matthieu; a sister, Judy Smith of Waitsfield; a brother, Clarence "Jerry" Tucker of Liberty, SC; as well as nieces, nephews and extended family. She was predeceased by two sisters, Katherine Tucker and Patricia Robinson, and a brother, Thomas Tucker.

A Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated from Our Lady of the Snows Catholic Church in Waitsfield on Monday, March 12, at 11 a.m. The family requests that flowers be omitted; rather memorial gifts would be appreciated to the Alzheimer's Association, 172 North Main Street, Barre, VT 05641. Interment will take place in San Fernando Mission Cemetery, Mission Hills, CA. To send online condolences, please visit www.perkinsparker.com.